EURASIAN FOLK AND FAIRY TALES

The stories come from Russia, Mongolia, Armenia, Persia, Afghanistan and neighboring territories. Most of them have already been anthologized but none are widely familiar. Many of the standard fairy tale devices are employed, the third son who makes good or the young man who must suffer triple rigors to obtain the princess' hand. The details are fresh, however, and pleasantly exotic. Many of the stories deal with a clever way of getting even. The stories are well told and adapted to the story teller. The organization is a little unfortunate; the opening selections are complete tales, but the latter half consists of abbreviated, rather repetitious fables.